Her eyes fluttered around and noticed everyone staring, some smiling and others gesturing; she hid her face in his shoulder and wailed again.
“And in front of everyone!”
He smiled and realized she was more bothered about that than the burning of her behind. Which, judging by the fire in his hand, would bother her for many days to come. His arms tightened around her.
“Look at me, honey.”
She pulled her head from his chest and her teary eyes met his, but his flashed at her, the anger still shimmered in their depths.
“I will not allow you to put your life in danger, Brooklyn. And if this is how you plan on racing, suffice it to say, this was your last race!”
“No … you have no right!”
“Do you even realize that you caused someone else to spin off? No? I didn’t think so. Reckless and racing don’t go well together and I will not allow you on a racetrack ever again if I see you racing like you just did!”
She stiffened. “You won’t allow? You are not my keeper, Mason Sheppard! I am my own person and you will not tell me what I can and cannot do!”
“As far as racing that specific car is concerned, I have every right.”
“What do you mean?”
“I bought it from Michael earlier.”
Her lips formed a wordless no and she struggled to get up, but his arms tightened even more. He patiently waited until she stopped struggling and with a soft frustrated, scream settled back into his arms. Her eyes shot daggers at him.
“Let me go!”
His eyebrows rose and he smiled inside himself. This was his little spitfire he has missed the past two weeks. She meekly accepted his treatment of her, which was what fed his anger even more. He forced her down harder against his lap and she gasped when she felt his arousal press hard and warm against her hip.
“Now, why would I do that, honey, when you fit me so very well?”
His lips nuzzled her neck and she tried to pull away, but with his arms so tight around her she had nowhere to go. His lips closed around the soft skin in the curve of her neck and pulled it between his lips and ignored her “Nooo” as he sucked the tender skin, marking her once again. He lifted his head, his eyes were half closed as he looked at the red mark he just made on her neck and felt a deep sense of belonging. His eyes rose and met her flashing ones.
“Kiss me, Brooklyn.”
His voice so soft, so warm it rushed through her blood. She felt the heavy pulsing in her neck where he just left his mark, and she couldn’t stop herself from leaning into him. Her lips met his and their tongues immediately dueled in a passionate dance. She broke away in embarrassment when the people around them applauded and pushed her blushing face into his chest, groaning as it moved with his chuckles.
He rose and pushed her to her feet, turned her towards him, circling her cheeks and looked deeply into her eyes.
“Promise me you will take care when you get in that car, Brooklyn. I need to know I can trust you when I am not around to drive with skill and precision … not reckless abandon.”
She realized just how reckless she was when he mentioned her causing someone to spin out and nodded.
“I promise.”
“If you are angry at me, you take it out on me … you do not take it out on the race track. Is that clear, Brooklyn?”
“Yes, Mason.”
He leaned closer and kissed her again, softly and tenderly at first, deep and passionate when she opened for him.
Michael lounged back against the Camaro, relaxed for the first time since Brooklyn’s involvement with Mason. He clearly knew how to handle her and he was happy that they found each other. He chuckled, recalling the telephone conversation he had with his parents last week after Mason visited them and informed them that Brooklyn was moving in with him; something he was still amazed at. He as much as told his parents that he had sex with her and that he would not let her go, no matter what. Totally unfazed about their reaction to that piece of news! His father rapped him over the knuckles for not warning them about the relationship, but Michael assured them they had nothing to worry about.
They decided to reserve their opinion until after the lunch this weekend. His mother confident in her ability to read people and would wait until she saw them together on whether she accepted his claim on her daughter.
Brooklyn woke up on Sunday feeling very stressed. She was still angry at Mason for giving her a hiding in full view of a packed racing pit and still winced every time she sat down.
She has never met his parents and did not know what to expect. Michael was no help whatsoever in as far as giving her information about them. Mason was still sleeping when she went downstairs to start the preparation for the barbeque they planned and found Liza already busy.
“Morning Liza. Why are you so early this morning?”
Liza tsk’ed and smiled. “I have to help you of course. I figured if we started early everything will be done by the time your guests arrive and you can all relax and enjoy the visit.”
Brooklyn smiled gratefully at her. She was a good cook, her mother made sure of that, but this was a first for her … to be solely responsible for entertaining such a group of people. Mason insisted on the barbeque, so it made the planning very easy. The side dishes were a variety of salads, breads and a very popular potato dish. For desert she made a fresh fruit salad with a fresh tangy sauce.
Mason walked into the kitchen an hour later and pulled her into his arms, leaning over to kiss her on her lips.
“I don’t like waking up with empty arms, honey.” He nuzzled her neck and when his lips tugged on the spot where he marked her on Friday she quickly pushed out of his arms, turning on him with a huff.
“Oh no you don’t! I remember very well what Tiaan said about those marks and this one is still very visible! How am I going to hide it from your mother?”
He chuckled and looked at her, his eyes serious.
“Why would you want to? It has not bothered you till now that I mark you and you have not hidden it from anyone. What makes them so different?”
“They’re our parents!”
“And we’re grown-ups. At least I informed your parents of my intentions before the time!” His eyes twinkled.
“Did you give my parents the same courtesy, Brooklyn?”
She gaped at him. “You … you … I’ve never even met them! Oh, God! This is going to be a disaster!”
He laughed and hugged her tight, his anger for now, buried under his anticipation of his parents reaction towards her.
“Relax, honey, they will love you and even if they don’t, it doesn’t matter.”
“How can you say that? If they don’t like me, we … our fu …”
She swallowed what she was about to say, remembering their current circumstances. He was right, it wouldn’t matter. At this point, she did not even know what tomorrow held in store for them, let alone the future.
His eyebrows rose and he looked at her and hardened his heart at her obvious distress. He might have temporarily pushed his anger aside, but it has not been forgotten, and it was good that she remembered.
“I am the only one that should matter to you, Brooklyn. Make right by me … and nothing else matters.”
“I want to, but you won’t let me!”
His expression became closed and he turned to walk outside, regret in his eyes.
“Now is not the time.”
Liza and Brooklyn made a good team and she had ample time to take a shower, wash her hair and get ready for their guests. She went downstairs, dressed in a white flowing sundress that hugged her curves wherever it touched and white thongs on her feet. She felt fresh and actually started looking forward to the day.
She walked out to the patio where Mason had set out the gas barbeque and was busy preparing welcome cocktails for the guests. He looked up when she walked through the door and he stopped breathing. With the flowing white sundress she looked beautiful and he had a flash of how she would lo
ok on their wedding day.
Rewind that … their wedding day! Yes, she was his and that has never changed. When he told her he would never let her go, that was what he intended … for her to be his wife … and even though he was still angry and disappointed with her … that has not changed.
He dropped what he was doing and walked up to her, caught her in his arms and locked his lips urgently over hers. He kissed her with so much fervor she battled to breath, but as always he ignited the heat inside her and she pressed even tighter against him. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she kissed him back. He groaned against her lips and his hands gripped her buttocks to pull her up and hard against his rising erection.
“Harrumph … seems I am forever the one to remind you there are other people around, brother dear!”
Tiaan’s chirpy voice reached them through the passionate haze and Mason groaned loudly, ending the kiss slowly and looked deeply into her eyes. His hand lifted and tenderly stroked her cheek, before he reluctantly drew away and turned to his brother.
Brooklyn’s cheeks were flushed and she wailed softly whilst Mason smiled broadly as they noticed his parents and Charles watching them curiously from the bottom of the stairs leading to the patio. His mother had a broad smile on her face and her eyes twinkled excitedly and he shook his head, knowing the thoughts going through her mind. His father also smiled and shook his head when he caught his wives’ eye, before he led her up the stairs to greet his eldest son and the woman that had turned his life upside down.
The two and a half weeks he spent with him in Australia was testimony to the effect she had on him and he was elated that he at long last met someone that complemented him so well.
Mason did the introductions and both his parents pulled her into their arms and hugged her. His mother could not stop smiling.
“Just call me Brianna and this is Geoff. We are not very formal in our family.”
“I … would prefer to call you Uncle G and Aunt B, if it is alright with you? It would not sound right to call Mason’s parents by their names.”
If at all possible, Brianna’s smile widened even more and Geoff could only shake his head. She had been won over the moment they saw that tender gesture at the end of their kiss.
Her parents and cousin, Allison, arrived as well, with Michael and Lucas in tow, and everyone seemed relaxed and happy to be there.
Mason hugged Aunt Ems, as he called Brooklyn’s mom and shook her father, John’s hand. Emma hugged her daughter, quietly elated and happy for her. They also bore witness to the tender gesture at the end of the kiss, albeit from a distance and she knew she could trust Mason to make her daughter happy.
The atmosphere was relaxed and lunch was a huge hit with everyone. Everyone relaxed next to the pool with their tummies full. Brooklyn and Allison joined them after quickly assisting a protesting Liza with carrying all the dishes inside and stacking the dishwasher.
Allison sat down on a chair across from Tiaan and he grinned at her, openly ogling her as she wrapped her legs beneath her and sensually curled up in the chair, his smile broadened when he caught her angry glare. He held her eyes and he stroked his finger over his lips, a subtle reminder of the heated kiss he stole from her not so long ago in the den. Her eyes flared and spit daggers at him. His soft chuckle rumbled over the short distance and she irritably turned her head away.
Brooklyn aimed for the chair next to her mother, but Mason grabbed her hand when she walked by him and pulled her onto his lap. He folded his arms around her and kissed her in her neck, ignoring her struggles and blushes.
Her eyes caught the smiling looks between their respective mothers and jabbed him in his side with her elbow.
“Ouch! What was that for, honey?” She glared at him for voicing his hurt so loudly, drawing all the attention to them.
“Don’t be such a baby!” She grumbled at him, trying to get up from his lap, but his arms only tightened around her waist. She sighed and settled back against him, deliberately wiggling in his lap pretending to become more comfortable. She smiled as she felt his erection rising against her hip. His hands tightened around her waist and he growled in her ear.
“Careful, honey … I would not think twice to throw you over my shoulder and carrying you up to our room!”
“You wouldn’t dare!”
He pulled his legs back and pushed her off his lap and rose. She gasped and took off running around the pool, successfully avoiding his hands until nearly on the other side of the pool, when he grabbed her around the waist and twirled her in a circle, laughing at her shrieks. She begged him to put her down and everyone watched them smilingly.
He lowered her and pulled her against him his arms loosely on her hips, his back towards their guests. He grinned down at her.
“Never challenge me, honey. Nothing would stop me carrying you away in front of them.”
“They’re our parents! And sitting on your lap! For goodness sake, Mason. I felt like a little girl!”
He pulled her hips tight against his and growled in her ear.
“I would not have this burning need for a little girl, honey!”
She shook her head. “Behave, Mason! Everyone is watching!”
He wiggled his eyebrows lavishly at her and she laughed. She caressed his arms, slowly circling his nipples and her hands met in the center of his chest. His eyes blazed at her caresses.
“I think, baby … you need to cool down!”
She shoved hard at his chest and the unexpectedness of her action propelled him backwards and he fell with a splash in the pool. She smiled at the amazed expression on his face and laughed when everyone else burst out laughing. His head broke the water and he smiled, wiping the water from his eyes.
He walked towards her in the pool and she jumped around and ran towards Michael, clutching him around his waist from behind, peeping around him and shrieked when a smiling Mason was already out of the pool. He stalked in her direction, totally unconcerned of her hiding behind Michael and when he reached them she realized why. He took her arm and pushed Michael effortlessly to the side and he stumbled sideways, taking Brooklyn still hugging his waist with.
She shrieked and laughed when the rest of the men surrounded Mason and grabbed him, pulling him back to the pool, clearly intending to throw him back in. A few grunts and splashes later and he faced Michael and her again, a grin on his face.
“Well, Mickey, do you want me to throw you in as well, or are you jumping?”
Michael shrugged and pulled her arms away from his waist. “Sorry sis, he is bigger than me.” He walked past him and jumped in the pool, leaving her to face the grinning and very determined Mason.
She held her hands out in front of her, shaking her head laughingly.
“Come on, baby, don’t be such a sore loser … you deserved it! No … Mason!”
She shrieked when he caught her and lifted her in his arms, turned and jumped in the pool with her in her arms. The moment they went under his lips closed over hers and he kissed her deeply, and did not stop when their heads cleared the water.
Amongst cheers he ended the kiss and hugged her tight, laughing down into her eyes.
“I think we should take a dip later tonight when it is just the two of us!” She blushed and he chuckled, turned her towards the edge of the pool. “Out you go.”
“Uhm … Mason.”
She turned back to him and gestured to her chest. His eyes lowered and froze on her jutting nipples, the rosy tips clearly visible through the clinging fabric of her dress.
“Do you really want me to get out in front of your brother, cousin and Lucas like this?”
“NO!”
His shout turned the attention back to them and Charles swam closer. Mason jerked her against him and glared at his cousin, looking at them questioningly.
“Anything I can help with, Cuz?”
“No thank you, except to turn around!”
Charles peeked around Mason and noticed the clingy fabric and burst out
laughing when he realized the problem. He shook his head at Mason.
“Hmm, hmmm, hmm … jealousy makes life difficult doesn’t it, Cuz? Must say, it is very selfish of you. We will only look … aahhh …” He shouted when Mason thumped him on the back of his head.
He pulled his wet shirt off and gently assisted Brooklyn to put it on over her wet dress, pulled her close and kissed her tenderly on her lips.
Emma and Brianna looked at each other, broad smiles on their faces. Emma nodded at John and the two of them accepted their little girl has found the man for her. A man both of them accepted and have respected for years.
Chapter Twelve
After that day Mason seemed to have let up slightly on his anger and things between them settled somewhat, until he overheard her talking to a man named Wesley. Laughing and joking with him and sounding happy. When she giggled again it propelled him out of his chair and he went to stand in his door glaring at her.
She noticed him the minute he leaned against the doorframe, his arms folded over his muscled chest. The frown and glitter in his eyes told her he was upset with her and she quickly ended the call. She looked at him questioningly.
“Yes, Mason?”
He didn’t say a word and only glared at her. Tiaan walked in at that point and noticed the strained atmosphere between them immediately.
“Mace, do you have a moment?”
He nodded, turned and Tiaan followed him into his office. Brooklyn shrugged her shoulders irritably. Why was he angry now? It seems she was always in trouble as far as he was concerned.
She was busy typing a report for Mason, when Tiaan walked out and waved at her. Mason appeared in the doorway again and with his head, ordered her inside. She winced noticing his shuttered eyes. She prayed silently that he didn’t spoil the progress they made over the past week with another lesson in her ‘punishment’ as she started thinking about the times he took her on his boardroom table in his office. Punishment, as he did it every time exactly on the same spot, and always with her bending over the desk. His only intent mainly his own pleasure, and he took pleasure in her anger when he made her come, even though she hated him for treating her with so little respect.
The Tycoon and his Honey Pot Page 12
